Pope Leo XIV, the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, expressed his disapproval of Illinois’ new assisted-suicide law, stating that he is “very disappointed” it was enacted.
“Unfortunately for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill,” said Robert Francis Prevost. “I’m very disappointed about that.”
According to Pope Leo XIV, he had personally requested Governor JB Pritzker to veto the bill during a meeting at the Vatican in November. After Pritzker signed the legislation on December 12, the Pope reiterated Catholic teaching that life is sacred from conception to natural death and called for renewed respect for life during the Christmas season.
Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1950, known as the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, into law. This legislation allows qualified terminally ill adults in Illinois to access medical aid in dying. It mandates that two physicians confirm a patient’s terminal diagnosis and mental capacity before prescribing life-ending medication. The signing followed the bill’s passage through the Illinois General Assembly and elicited responses from political parties and advocacy groups concerned about its potential effects on vulnerable populations.
Illinois has a significant older population, with nearly 2.9 million adults aged 60 and over representing 22 percent of its residents, according to state reports. Additionally, more than 11.9 percent of the population reports having a disability, with a higher percentage among women at 12.4 percent, as said in demographic analyses. These figures underscore the scale of vulnerable groups within the state potentially impacted by end-of-life policies.
As Bishop of Rome since May 2025, Pope Leo XIV leads both the worldwide Catholic Church and Vatican City State. He has consistently emphasized life ethics opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide in accordance with Church doctrine affirming human dignity. Vatican and Catholic press have highlighted his appeals to “bear witness to God-given dignity of all.”
